Power & Politics

Elon Musk Is Spending Nearly $190 Million on Texas’ Senate Race. His Companies Have Billions at Stake in Texas, Too

The billionaire is financing a massive effort to elect Ken Paxton to the U.S. Senate while his companies benefit from billions in Texas tax incentives. The money trails are documented. What remains unanswered is how corporate interests and political influence…

By Will Davison Jr. · October 28, 2026

Elon Musk Is Spending Nearly $190 Million on Texas’ Senate Race. His Companies Have Billions at Stake in Texas, Too

Marsha Blackburn Used Kendrick Lamar’s “Not Like Us” in an AI Campaign Video. The Backlash Goes Beyond the Song.

The Tennessee Republican says the AI-generated recreation of Lamar’s Super Bowl performance was just fun. Her record on hip-hop, her push for AI protections for artists and questions about permission have made the 12-second clip a much bigger conversation.

Trump Says America Is Making a Fortune From Oil. So Why Are Americans Paying More?

At a Georgia rally, Donald Trump celebrated the financial gains American energy producers are seeing during the Iran war, even as gasoline prices remain elevated. His remarks exposed a fundamental tension between corporate profits and the costs households are being asked to absorb.

Rachel Lindsay Questions Stephen A. Smith’s Dinner With Trump. What Did It Accomplish?

Stephen A. Smith has defended his White House dinner with Donald Trump as a chance to advocate for Black Americans. Rachel Lindsay and Van Lathan are asking whether the conversation produced anything meaningful.

Trump Is Offering $1 Million for Voter Fraud Tips. Who Pays, and What Happens Next?

Eight days before the midterm elections, President Donald Trump is promising a seven-figure reward for information leading to voter fraud convictions. But the administration has not explained how the program would operate, where the money would come from or how it would distinguish credible evidence from unsubstantiated allegations.

America Votes on Tuesdays Because of Farmers. Nearly 180 Years Later, We’re Still Working Around It.

Most democracies hold national elections on weekends or public holidays. The United States remains among a minority that routinely votes on ordinary weekdays, raising questions about whether an outdated tradition creates unnecessary barriers to participation.

First Obama Wasn’t “American Enough.” Now a Muslim Senate Candidate Is Being Called a Terrorist.

From the birther conspiracy against Barack Obama to the attacks on Michigan Senate nominee Abdul El-Sayed, racial and religious identity keep shaping American campaigns. The accusations change, but the message stays familiar: some candidates must prove their loyalty before voters will even consider their policies.

More Than 26 Million Americans Have Already Voted. What’s Driving the Urgency?

Early voting is running ahead of the 2022 midterm pace in several states, while new polling finds Americans motivated by economic pressure, political dissatisfaction and control of Congress. But high early turnout doesn't necessarily tell us who will win—or how many people will ultimately vote.

Lula Wins Historic Fourth Term in Brazil as Bolsonaro’s Son Challenges Results

Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva won a historic fourth term Sunday, defeating right-wing Senator Flávio Bolsonaro with 51.79% of the vote. But Bolsonaro, the son of imprisoned former President Jair Bolsonaro, refused to concede and announced plans to challenge the election over a controversial two-hour extension of voting. Lula's victory comes four years after Bolsonaro supporters stormed government buildings following his father's 2022 defeat. Despite winning by more than 4 million votes, Lula faces a difficult term ahead, with a Congress strengthened by right-wing lawmakers and an opposition unwilling to accept the outcome. The result also represents a setback for Donald Trump, whose administration supported the Bolsonaro family's return to power.

Lula Wins a Fourth Term in Brazil, Defying a Regional Shift to the Right

Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva secured a historic fourth, nonconsecutive term Sunday, defeating conservative Senator Flávio Bolsonaro, the son of former President Jair Bolsonaro. With nearly all ballots counted, Lula received approximately 51.8% of the vote to Bolsonaro's 48.2%, completing an unexpected comeback after finishing behind his challenger in the October 4 first round. The victory makes Lula the first Brazilian president elected four times and keeps Latin America's largest economy under left-of-center leadership as several neighboring countries have moved toward conservative governments.

Trump Praised Nicki Minaj’s Body at a Political Rally. What Does That Say About Their Alliance?

At a Michigan campaign rally, Donald Trump commented on Nicki Minaj’s backside before asking her to stand. Hours after a White House aide floated her for press secretary, the moment brought a very different kind of attention to one of his most visible celebrity supporters, raising questions about gender, political loyalty and the increasingly personal nature of their alliance.

Nicki Minaj for White House Press Secretary? A Joke That Says Plenty About Politics Today

The rapper’s ride aboard Air Force One prompted a senior Trump aide to float her name for one of Washington’s most visible jobs, a post that has been empty since the last press secretary lasted five days. Whether the suggestion was serious or not, it shows how celebrity has become part of the White House communications strategy.

Elon Musk Is Spending Nearly $190 Million on Texas’ Senate Race. His Companies Have Billions at Stake in Texas, Too

Marsha Blackburn Used Kendrick Lamar’s “Not Like Us” in an AI Campaign Video. The Backlash Goes Beyond the Song.

Rachel Lindsay Questions Stephen A. Smith’s Dinner With Trump. What Did It Accomplish?

America Votes on Tuesdays Because of Farmers. Nearly 180 Years Later, We’re Still Working Around It.

Trump Says America Is Making a Fortune From Oil. So Why Are Americans Paying More?

Trump Is Offering $1 Million for Voter Fraud Tips. Who Pays, and What Happens Next?

First Obama Wasn’t “American Enough.” Now a Muslim Senate Candidate Is Being Called a Terrorist.

More Than 26 Million Americans Have Already Voted. What’s Driving the Urgency?

From the Newsroom

Trump Praised Nicki Minaj’s Body at a Political Rally. What Does That Say About Their Alliance?

Nicki Minaj for White House Press Secretary? A Joke That Says Plenty About Politics Today

Georgia Is Giving Drivers a Break at the Pump. Who Pays for the Missing Revenue?

Stop Asking Why Black Men Don’t Vote. Ask Why Nobody Is Listening.

In Case You Missed It

Brazil’s Runoff Is About Who Gets to Forgive

Religion Is Still Dividing the American Vote. Even Trump’s Strongest Supporters Are Less Enthusiastic.

Free Speech Has Different Rules at Work

Women Want More Political Power. AI Is Giving Them Another Reason to Stay Out.

Abdul El-Sayed Could Become America’s First Muslim Senator. His Race Is Testing How Voters Weigh Faith.

Trump Says His Second Term Gives Him Power He Never Had Before. Congress Is Part of the Story.

Black Voters Aren’t Showing Up in Ohio. Are Political Parties Showing Up for Them?

Americans Trust Their Elections. They No Longer Agree on What Makes Them Secure.

When Police Don’t Knock, Who Gets the Benefit of the Doubt?

Stephen A. Smith and Bill Maher Had Dinner With Trump. What Does a Seat at the Table Actually Accomplish?

Civil Rights Groups Want 100,000 Black Men at the Polls on Oct. 24. The Bigger Target Is the Men Who Might Stay Home.

The First Ballot: A College Freshman on Why He Won’t Let His Vote Be Taken for Granted

Elon Musk Is Spending Nearly $190 Million on Texas’ Senate Race. His Companies Have Billions at Stake in Texas, Too

Marsha Blackburn Used Kendrick Lamar’s “Not Like Us” in an AI Campaign Video. The Backlash Goes Beyond the Song.

Trump Says America Is Making a Fortune From Oil. So Why Are Americans Paying More?

Rachel Lindsay Questions Stephen A. Smith’s Dinner With Trump. What Did It Accomplish?

Trump Is Offering $1 Million for Voter Fraud Tips. Who Pays, and What Happens Next?

America Votes on Tuesdays Because of Farmers. Nearly 180 Years Later, We’re Still Working Around It.

First Obama Wasn’t “American Enough.” Now a Muslim Senate Candidate Is Being Called a Terrorist.

More Than 26 Million Americans Have Already Voted. What’s Driving the Urgency?

Lula Wins Historic Fourth Term in Brazil as Bolsonaro’s Son Challenges Results

Lula Wins a Fourth Term in Brazil, Defying a Regional Shift to the Right

Trump Praised Nicki Minaj’s Body at a Political Rally. What Does That Say About Their Alliance?

Nicki Minaj for White House Press Secretary? A Joke That Says Plenty About Politics Today

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Power & Politics

Elon Musk Is Spending Nearly $190 Million on Texas’ Senate Race. His Companies Have Billions at Stake in Texas, Too

Marsha Blackburn Used Kendrick Lamar’s “Not Like Us” in an AI Campaign Video. The Backlash Goes Beyond the Song.

Rachel Lindsay Questions Stephen A. Smith’s Dinner With Trump. What Did It Accomplish?

America Votes on Tuesdays Because of Farmers. Nearly 180 Years Later, We’re Still Working Around It.

Trump Says America Is Making a Fortune From Oil. So Why Are Americans Paying More?

Trump Is Offering $1 Million for Voter Fraud Tips. Who Pays, and What Happens Next?

First Obama Wasn’t “American Enough.” Now a Muslim Senate Candidate Is Being Called a Terrorist.

More Than 26 Million Americans Have Already Voted. What’s Driving the Urgency?

From the Newsroom

Trump Praised Nicki Minaj’s Body at a Political Rally. What Does That Say About Their Alliance?

Nicki Minaj for White House Press Secretary? A Joke That Says Plenty About Politics Today

Georgia Is Giving Drivers a Break at the Pump. Who Pays for the Missing Revenue?

Stop Asking Why Black Men Don’t Vote. Ask Why Nobody Is Listening.

In Case You Missed It

Brazil’s Runoff Is About Who Gets to Forgive

Religion Is Still Dividing the American Vote. Even Trump’s Strongest Supporters Are Less Enthusiastic.

Free Speech Has Different Rules at Work

Women Want More Political Power. AI Is Giving Them Another Reason to Stay Out.

Abdul El-Sayed Could Become America’s First Muslim Senator. His Race Is Testing How Voters Weigh Faith.

Trump Says His Second Term Gives Him Power He Never Had Before. Congress Is Part of the Story.

Black Voters Aren’t Showing Up in Ohio. Are Political Parties Showing Up for Them?

Americans Trust Their Elections. They No Longer Agree on What Makes Them Secure.

When Police Don’t Knock, Who Gets the Benefit of the Doubt?

Stephen A. Smith and Bill Maher Had Dinner With Trump. What Does a Seat at the Table Actually Accomplish?

Civil Rights Groups Want 100,000 Black Men at the Polls on Oct. 24. The Bigger Target Is the Men Who Might Stay Home.

The First Ballot: A College Freshman on Why He Won’t Let His Vote Be Taken for Granted